What are the impacts and cost-effectiveness of strategies to improve performance of untrained and under-trained teachers in the classroom in developing countries?

What are the impacts and cost effectiveness of strategies to improve performance of untrained and under-trained teachers in the classroom in developing countries

Developing a catalogue of errors and evaluating its impact on software development

The development of quality software is of paramount importance, yet this has been and continues to be an elusive goal for software engineers. Delivered software often fails due to errors that are injected during its development. Correcting these errors early in the development or preventing them altogether can, therefore, be considered as one way to improve software quality. In this thesis, the development of a Catalogue of Errors is described. Field studies with senior software engineering students are used to confirm that developers using the Catalogue of Errors commit fewer errors in their development artifacts. The impact of the Catalogue of Errors on productivity is also examined

Eficácia de uma abordagem integrada de intervenção neurolinguística na afasia progressiva primária

In the past few years, primary progressive aphasia has been acknowledged as an emerging field of practice. Considered a neurodegenerative-based syndrome, primary progressive aphasia requires a singular pathway that addresses the associated characteristics of the syndrome. Among the several treatment approaches that have been investigated, behavioural interventions seem to offer some promise. Despite evidence suggests that intervention should capitalize on spared language abilities and improve communication performance to increase functioning levels, a large number of interventions has focused on remediating impaired skills. Accordingly, the present work aimed to design, implement and evaluate the effects of an intervention that targets the maintenance of a core vocabulary and the training of communication strategies along with the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices. Particularly, this case report aimed to analyse the effect of a neurolinguistic intervention on naming performance for trained and untrained words, and quality of life. Two patients diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia participated in this study that took place over the period of five months. Data collection occurred before intervention, during intervention every two-week interval, immediately after the intervention and one month after treatment was complete. Outcome measures consisted of formal and standardized instruments, adapted and validated to Portuguese population. The intervention approach used in this study produced a limited but promising impact on participants. One participant improved naming accuracy and both participants retained therapy gains. Several methodological aspects limited the outcomes representativeness and generalization of conclusions to clinical practice, namely the reduced number of participants, the presence of different diagnosis and the design. This study provides preliminary data on the effects of combined intervention approaches and their impact on patients’ quality of life. The involvement of close family members on therapy sessions is highlighted as beneficial.A afasia progressiva primária tem sido reconhecida como uma área de intervenção emergente nos últimos anos. Considerando-se uma síndrome de origem neurodegenerativa, a afasia progressiva primária requer uma resposta diferenciada que vá ao encontro das características inerentes a esta condição. Várias abordagens de intervenção têm sido exploradas, de entre as quais se destacam as intervenções comportamentais, pelos resultados promissores que têm oferecido. Embora se defenda cada vez mais que a intervenção se deva focar na manutenção de competências linguísticas residuais e na maximização das competências comunicativas, no sentido de aumentar os níveis de funcionalidade da pessoa, grande parte das intervenções têm valorizado a reaprendizagem de competências perdidas. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho teve como principal objetivo desenhar, implementar e avaliar os efeitos de uma intervenção que promove a manutenção de um vocabulário funcional e o treino de estratégias comunicativas a par da utilização de meios de comunicação aumentativa e alternativa. Especificamente, este estudo de caso visou analisar o efeito de uma intervenção neurolinguística na capacidade de nomeação de palavras treinadas e não treinadas, e qualidade de vida. Dois pacientes diagnosticados com afasia progressiva primária participaram no estudo que teve uma duração total de cinco meses. Foram recolhidos dados antes da intervenção, durante a intervenção a cada duas semanas, imediatamente após a intervenção e um mês após o fim do tratamento. Para tal foram utilizados instrumentos de medida formais e estandardizados, adaptados e aferidos à população portuguesa. A abordagem de intervenção implementada teve um impacto limitado, mas promissor, nos participantes. Registou-se uma melhoria das competências de nomeação num dos casos, e manutenção de competências adquiridas em ambos os casos. Vários fatores metodológicos limitaram a representatividade dos resultados obtidos e aplicabilidade das conclusões à prática clínica, nomeadamente o reduzido número de participantes, a heterogeneidade no diagnóstico e o desenho do estudo. Os resultados deste estudo providenciam dados preliminares acerca do efeito de abordagens integradas de intervenção e impacto na qualidade de vida das pessoas com afasia progressiva primária. Destaca-se a importância do envolvimento de familiares diretos nas sessões terapêuticas, como fator facilitador.Programa Doutoral em Psicologi

ALS-NSCORT 2005 Annual Report

An overview of the ALS-NSCORT projects for the year 2005. 169 pages

Effects of Subtitled Video During Transactional Task Practice on Oral Communicative Performance of Fifth Semester College Students of French Learning With Multimedia Courseware.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of subtitled video during transactional task practice on oral communicative performance of fifth semester college students of French learning with multimedia courseware. Task practice was provided by the multimedia package, Practicing Spoken French (PSF) specifically designed by the researcher for this study. The package, which integrates HyperCard and videodisc technologies, allows for individually customized practice of two video-based oral tasks, description and narration. Drawing on Salomon\u27s theories about the effects of media coding elements and perception of task on cognition and learning, the study used a 2 x 2 factorial design with two levels of subtitling (subtitles, no-subtitles), and two levels of oral transactional tasks (higher, lower). Forty-four fifth semester college students of French were randomly assigned to one of four experimental treatments--subtitles/lower-level task, no-subtitles/lower-level task, subtitles/higher-level task, no-subtitles/higher-level task. Students under each treatment were required to participate in two experimental sessions to complete the four stages of the two practice tasks of their choice--watching a video segment, answering video-related questions, drafting a description or a narration following the video information, and recording an up to 3-minute oral sample, based on what they had drafted. The dependent variable, oral communicative performance, was assessed by applying four six-point rating scales (Effectiveness, Accuracy, Organization, and Fluency) to the subjects\u27 oral samples. Subjects in the subtitles treatments scored significantly higher on the oral performance measure and had significantly better attitudes than subjects in the no-subtitles treatments. The effects of task level and the interaction of this variable with subtitling were insignificant. However, higher-level task subjects outperformed their lower-level task counterparts in the two experimental sessions. Also in both sessions, subtitles/higher-level task subjects obtained the highest scores on the oral performance measure. Insights on CALL issues such as locus of control, time on task, learning environment, word processing, and attitudes were offered, as well as conclusions and implications for speaking assessment, CALL design, and future research

Investigating the attainment of optimum data quality for EHR Big Data: proposing a new methodological approach

The value derivable from the use of data is continuously increasing since some years. Both commercial and non-commercial organisations have realised the immense benefits that might be derived if all data at their disposal could be analysed and form the basis of decision taking. The technological tools required to produce, capture, store, transmit and analyse huge amounts of data form the background to the development of the phenomenon of Big Data. With Big Data, the aim is to be able to generate value from huge amounts of data, often in non-structured format and produced extremely frequently. However, the potential value derivable depends on general level of governance of data, more precisely on the quality of the data. The field of data quality is well researched for traditional data uses but is still in its infancy for the Big Data context. This dissertation focused on investigating effective methods to enhance data quality for Big Data. The principal deliverable of this research is in the form of a methodological approach which can be used to optimize the level of data quality in the Big Data context. Since data quality is contextual, (that is a non-generalizable field), this research study focuses on applying the methodological approach in one use case, in terms of the Electronic Health Records (EHR). The first main contribution to knowledge of this study systematically investigates which data quality dimensions (DQDs) are most important for EHR Big Data. The two most important dimensions ascertained by the research methods applied in this study are accuracy and completeness. These are two well-known dimensions, and this study confirms that they are also very important for EHR Big Data. The second important contribution to knowledge is an investigation into whether Artificial Intelligence with a special focus upon machine learning could be used in improving the detection of dirty data, focusing on the two data quality dimensions of accuracy and completeness. Regression and clustering algorithms proved to be more adequate for accuracy and completeness related issues respectively, based on the experiments carried out. However, the limits of implementing and using machine learning algorithms for detecting data quality issues for Big Data were also revealed and discussed in this research study. It can safely be deduced from the knowledge derived from this part of the research study that use of machine learning for enhancing data quality issues detection is a promising area but not yet a panacea which automates this entire process. The third important contribution is a proposed guideline to undertake data repairs most efficiently for Big Data; this involved surveying and comparing existing data cleansing algorithms against a prototype developed for data reparation. Weaknesses of existing algorithms are highlighted and are considered as areas of practice which efficient data reparation algorithms must focus upon. Those three important contributions form the nucleus for a new data quality methodological approach which could be used to optimize Big Data quality, as applied in the context of EHR. Some of the activities and techniques discussed through the proposed methodological approach can be transposed to other industries and use cases to a large extent. The proposed data quality methodological approach can be used by practitioners of Big Data Quality who follow a data-driven strategy. As opposed to existing Big Data quality frameworks, the proposed data quality methodological approach has the advantage of being more precise and specific. It gives clear and proven methods to undertake the main identified stages of a Big Data quality lifecycle and therefore can be applied by practitioners in the area. This research study provides some promising results and deliverables. It also paves the way for further research in the area. Technical and technological changes in Big Data is rapidly evolving and future research should be focusing on new representations of Big Data, the real-time streaming aspect, and replicating same research methods used in this current research study but on new technologies to validate current results

Management of data quality when integrating data with known provenance

Abstract unavailable please refer to PD

Connected Developments: The Governance of Formal Global Knowledge Networks in Sustainability Transformations

Climate change adds pressure to the international community to work cooperatively, find ways to govern technologies and expert knowledge, develop better policies, and mobilise resources, tools, and practices to deal with potential consequences and impacts. The institutional drivers underpinning current knowledge applications in globally connected spaces of sustainable development practice are increasingly complex, intertwined, and empirically understudied. In this context, this PhD thesis aims to advance our empirical understanding of why and how formal cooperation networks form, negotiate, mobilise and utilise particular technologies and expert knowledge and attempt to steer visions and pathways for change. This research combines multi-sited ethnography with social network analysis and policy analysis and investigates formal contexts of global connection. This thesis examines practices of science and technology policy through technology-driven networks in multiple locations in Europe and Southeast Asia. In particular, this thesis analyses the processes and conditions through which tools (e.g. modelling technologies), practices (e.g. climate negotiations, technology transfer activities, risk management, and environmental planning), and ways of dealing with climate-related uncertainties are implemented in a global knowledge network articulated under the UN system. The participant observation that is applied in the research is grounded in mobile contexts of project-based interactions, intergovernmental negotiations, international expert meetings, high-level advisory boards, technology assessments, implementation of technology transfer programmes, capacity-building workshops, expert discussions on anticipation and uncertainty, and the production of reports, climate policies, and procurement systems. This thesis examines how the artefacts of transfer interact in the implementation of the Technology Mechanism under the UNFCCC, drawing on cases of climate and hydrological modelling ranging from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) to Thailand and Myanmar. It maps and analyses the global response of networked organisations, with special attention to persistent North South power dynamics imposed by global environmental governance regimes and their emergent ‘transformational claims’. This thesis delves into a critical evaluation of transformational change narratives in institutionalised knowledge systems, practices of technology transfer, and science policy spaces inside the United Nations. It contributes to a better foundational understanding of knowledge governance relating to critical social and environmental challenges, and rethinks futures of collective climate action in light of sustainability transformations theory and practice

General Psychology (Fall 2018)

This open textbook represents the version used in several Fall 2018 General Psychology courses at Valparaiso University.https://scholar.valpo.edu/psych_oer/1002/thumbnail.jp

General Psychology (Fall 2018)

This open textbook represents the version used in several Fall 2018 General Psychology courses at Valparaiso University.https://scholar.valpo.edu/psych_oer/1002/thumbnail.jp